St. Anthusa the Abbess of Mantinea in Asia Minor

Commemorated on July 27

St. Anthusa the Confessor lived at Mantinea, Paphlygonia in Asia Minor during the eighth century. Leaving the world at a young age, she lived in asceticism in the mountains in complete solitude. She received monastic tonsure from Hieromonk Sisinius, and became abbess of a monastery of ninety nuns.

St. Anthusa suffered during the reign of Emperor Constantine Copronymos, who demanded that she renounce the veneration of holy icons. St. Anthusa was subjected to torture for disobeying the emperor’s order.

Among those who witnessed the torture was the emperor’s wife, for whom the saint predicted the birth of a son and daughter. When St. Anthusa’s prediction was fulfilled, she was allowed to return to her convent, where she died in great old age. The daughter born to the emperor’s wife was named Anthusa.

Having lived a life pleasing to God, she entered into the Heavenly Kingdom in 759. She was buried in her cell.